Stenciling mask



Sept. 8, 1942. c. RADTKE Er). 2,295,128

STENCILING MASK Original Filed Oct. 1'7, "1938 Y INVENTORS c///;e4 58E40 7165 #4710? Y SEA 1. MAN

Patented Sept. 8, 1942 UNETED ST tics STENCILING MASK Charles Radtke,West New York, and Henry Bellman, Wood-Ridge, N. J., assignors to LorrLaboratories, Paterson, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey 1 Claim.

This invention relates to improvements in apparatus employed instenciling articles for decorative purposes and has particular referenceto a mask adapted for application to an article while the latter ishaving a coloring substance or the like sprayed thereon, the presentapplication being a division of a copending application Serial No.235,438, filed October 17, 1938.

More specifically, the present mask is adapted for the application ofvari-colored liquid fingernail polishes or lacquers to parts of bottlestoppers each shaped to simulate a finger-nail, said part on eachstopper to be sprayed with a liquid colored the same as that to beenclosed in the container so that prospective purchasers may determinethe color or tint of the contents of said container by observance of thenail simulation on the stopper thereof.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved mask of simple andpractical construction in which means are provided for accuratelymounting the mask on an article, such as a bottle stopper or closure,preparatory to stenciling the same and for securely retaining said maskin proper position during the stenciling operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide guiding means on astenciling mask and on an article to which the mask is to be applied,whereby the mask will be accurately guided into place on the article.

The inventive idea involved is capable of receiving a variety ofmechanical expressions one of which, for purposes of illustration, isshown in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of an apparatus, such as shownin the above identified application, showing the masks in position forspraying.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary elevation showing a container andits closure or stopper in position on a supporting member of theapparatus and in which liquid is to be sprayed on to a portion of saidclosure.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken at right angles to Fig. 2.

Figure 4 is a top plan view of a portion of said supporting membershowing a mask in position thereon and ready to receive the closure of acontainer.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the mask constructed in accordancewith the present invention, and

Figure 6 is an elevation of the container and its closure in an uprightposition after application of liquid to a defined area of said closure.

The spraying apparatus partially shown in Fig. 1, and illustrated inmore detail in said copending application, briefly comprises a frame I2upon which is rotatably mounted a sectional supporting ring 19 providedwith a series of openings 22 each having its lower end reduced to form asupporting flange 23. Each of said openings is adapted. to receive theclosure 8 of a container 9 in its inverted position preparatory to thespraying operation. One or more spraying devices 29 of any conventionalconstruction are employed to spray a liquid, such as a nail polish, ontothe exposed areas [0 of the closures 9 as they are rotated by the ringl9. To prevent excess diffusion of the spray and fumes therefrom, asuction head 30, connected to a fan (not shown), may be arranged inopposed relation to each of the sprayers 29.

In order that liquid directed toward the closure 8 will be sprayed onlyupon the area In, there is provided a. mask 24 shaped substantially toconform to the contour of the closure 8 and adapted to fit over the samewhen said closure is inserted into an opening 22 in one of thesupporting sections I9. At the open end of the mask 24 the same isprovided with a laterally extending annular flange 25 which rests uponthe flange 23 within the opening 22 so as to support the mask in itsnormal inverted position, as best shown in Figure 3. The mask isprovided in the body portion thereof with an opening 26 shaped similarlyto the offset portion of the area In so that said portion will beexposed through said opening when the closure 8 is introduced into themask. Opposed to the opening 26 in the mask there is also provided aslot 21 which extends through the flange 25 and which is adapted toreceive an elongated key 28 projecting from a surface of the closure 8diametrically opposite the area Ill. When the key 28 is inserted intothe slot 21 the area I0 is registered with the opening 26 in the maskand said key and slot cooperate to prevent any turning movement of theclosure 8 relative to the mask which might otherwise expose a portion ofthe closure 8 not intended to be sprayed with the liquid.

The convenience of this construction will be apparent. An operatorloading the frame [9 with the containers 9 need merely insert the endportion of the closure 8 thereof into one of the openings 22 and turn ittherein until the key 28 thereof enters the slot 21 of the mask, afterwhich a downward push will serve to seat the closure 8 within the maskin its correct position, with only the offset portion l0 exposed. Itwill be observed that the operator may rely entirely on feel, instead ofon vision, once the end of the enclosure 8 is inserted into the opening,because the closure 8 cannot be seated in the mask until the key 28engages the slot 21, which engagement is accomplished by the feel of theoperator. Thereafter the key 28 automatically guides the closureaccurately and unfailingly into its seat in the mask.

What is claimed is:

A mask for shielding portions of anarticle to be decorated, said articlebeing of generally cylindrical contour and having a first offset portionthereon to which color is to be applied and further having a secondportion offset from the surface thereof, said second offset portionbeing in the form of a key extending axially of the article, said maskbeing generally in the form of a cup closed at one end having its innersurface contoured to closely engage the surface of the article, andhaving an opening in the wall thereof provided with edge portions inclose registration with the edge portions of said first offset portionso as to expose said offset portion while shielding the portionscontiguous thereto, and

said mask having a second opening in the walls thereof, said secondopening being in the form of a slot in close registration with said keyand extending to the rim of the mask, the edges of said slot being inclose registration with the sides of said key, and said key and slotbeing positioned so as to interengage before the mask assumes its finalpositionon the article, whereby on insert- -ing the end of said articleinto the mask and manipulating it so that the end of the key enters theslot, on further manipulation the article will be guided accurately intoits correct final position in the mask.

CHARLES RAD'I'KE. HENRY BELLMAN.

